Free electronic library

"
The little man put his head on one side and looked at me in an odd way.
"Do you mean," he asked in a softened voice, "that you ask me to dine
with you in the midst of your aristocratic compatriots?"
"Why, evidently," said I, baffled. "It's only an ordinary table d'hote
dinner."
To my astonishment, tears actually spurted out of the eyes of the
amazing little creature. He took my hand and before I knew what he was
going to do with it he had touched it with his lips.
"My dear Professor!" I cried in dismay.
He put up a pudgy hand, and said with great dignity:
"I cannot dine with you, Monsieur de Gex. But I thank you from my heart
for your generous kindness. I shall never forget it to my dying day."
"But----"
He would listen to no protests. "If you will do me the honour of coming
at nine o'clock to the Cafe de Bordeaux, at the corner of the Place
du Gouvernement, I shall be there. _Auf wiedersehen_, Monsieur, and a
thousand thanks. I beg you as a favour not to accompany me. I couldn't
bear it.


Pages:
198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222